EMOR PROJECT - The Blueprint

בס״ד

WHY EMOR?

IN TODAY’S WORLD, SO MANY JEWISH RESOURCES AND INITIATIVES ARE AVAILABLE.
HOWEVER, IT CAN OFTEN BE DIFFICULT TO FIND THE INFORMATION ONE SEEKS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO CONFRONTING THE CHALLENGES OF MODERN JEWISH LIFE.

“A PLACE FOR EVERYTHING, 

AND 

EVERYTHING IN

 ITS PLACE.”

We are a non-judgemental Orthodox organization with no hidden agenda, committed to sharing Torat Hayim (A Torah of Life) as a source of guidance for life.

 

We are working to provide a framework for organizing and disseminating the wealth of Jewish resources and initiatives, enabling users, regardless of their background or prior knowledge, to easily find and understand relevant and authoritative information.

 

We believe that as more Jews become empowered through knowledge, they will contribute productively to the dialogue on contemporary issues.

 

The Emor project is a massive undertaking, and with minimal resources, we have only completed the first step of the larger project. We are constantly working to develop, improve and add to the site. 

 

Some areas are still in the development phase. Only with partnerships and support, we will be able to continue to build on this framework and add new initiatives to create a fully functional and all-encompassing website.

ACCESS TO CONTENT

We aim to:

  • categorize, in a structured and organized manner, resources and websites of Torah learning by their areas of interest.
  • provide comprehensive access to information in a clear and organized manner.
  • promote confidence in independent exploration of contemporary Jewish resources.
  • empower individuals with knowledge, since Jewish education is the key to our future.

.

UNDERSTANDING OF CONTENT

Our vision is to enable each individual, regardless of their background or prior knowledge, to:

  • Navigate through the sources, concepts and debates in order to apply these to everyday life and when confronting the challenges posed to Judaism by the modern world.
  • Understand the halakhic decision-making structure and Jewish Thought process.
  • Understand terminology and concepts through the Emor Notes – a vast reservoir of explanations and supplementary information.
  • Understand how ancient principles are still vital and relevant today.

FRAMEWORK

The Mishna states (Avot 1:2):
On Three Things The World Stands:

TORAH

Connecting through Torah learning

AVODA

Strengthening our connection with The Creator

GEMILUT CHASADIM

Connecting through acts of kindness

These “Foundation Pillars” constitute our framework for organizing and disseminating the Jewish people’s wealth of information and initiatives.

STRATEGIC IMPLEMENTATION

GEMILUT CHASADIM

AVODA

Acts of kindness

To learn about people who find themselves in different types of serious difficulty. The user will find a thoroughly researched list of the most reliable organizations that address these issues…

Connecting with The Creator

Life-changing teachings focused on understanding philosophical, spiritual and existential questions. Emor makes these classic sources accessible and decodes the esoteric lexicon…

TORAH

EMOR MAPPING PROJECT

mapping project

 

Through an interactive platform, users – whether learned or novice – can access the most compelling discussions, opinions, and rulings of Judaism’s leading rabbis, scholars and of communal figures.

  • Rabbis and scholars will applaud having the sources compiled and available in one place.
  • Laypeople will appreciate the guidance in applying Jewish law, outlooks, and principles to challenges posed to Judaism by the modern world.

GATEWAYS TO TORAT HAYIM

 

Connecting people to Jewish teachings and resources:

  • by providing the user with a wide selection of carefully considered and compiled excerpts from the teachings of Rabbis, scholars, and institutions.
  • by categorization of websites by area of interest which helps the user to independently find relevant resources to them.
  • by utilizing the benefits of social media platforms enabling a wider audience to be exposed to the rich content we are providing.

AN INTERACTIVE VISUAL REPRESENTATION THAT:

Aims to consolidate the full range of sources, rulings and opinions concerning the pressing Jewish issues of our times.

Maps the material about halakha (Jewish law) and hashkafa (Jewish thought) on contemporary issues, allowing the user to examine various facets of the halakhic and Jewish thought process in an organized and logical manner, from the Torah verses to modern-day halakhic decision making or hashkafic perspectives.
Users will no longer need to spend hours hunting down relevant sources as we will compile them in one accessible place.
The user-friendly format allows people of any background to follow the discussion and grasp the issues easily.
THE THREE COMPONENTS OF THE MAPPING PROJECT
EMOR CHART

Consolidates the full range of sources, rulings, and opinions concerning the Jewish issues of our times, and presents them in a user-friendly format that facilitates both professional research and lay study…

ARTICLES IN MAPPING FORMAT
The most prominent and authoritative articles are presented in Mapping Format, with four mastery levels of Emor Notes that empower even beginners to follow the flow of the arguments…
KNOWLEDGE BASE
The Emor Notes constitute a vast reservoir of supplementary information displayed alongside primary sources, which will be compiled into a section of our website called the Knowledge Base for easy access…
Havdala

Havdala is the ceremony that marks the end of Shabbat and the transition back to the regular week. It includes blessings over wine, spices, and fire.

Havdala consists of the following stages: 

    1. Verses  
      • Although not required, verses that express our hope for a positive week are customarily recited at the beginning of Havdala.
      • Ashkenazim recite a series of verses beginning with “Hinei Kel Yeshu’ati” (Yeshayahu 12:2) available here, while Sephardim recite a series of verses beginning with “Rishon Letzion” (Yeshayahu 41:27) available here .
  • Wine
    • Blessing: Borei pri hagafen is recited on the cup of wine.
    • Practical Guidelines:
      • Ideally, use kosher wine or grape juice.
      • If unavailable, significant beverages like beer or coffee may be used. 
      • According to some opinions, one may also use other significant beverages if one prefers them over wine. 
  1. Spices (besamim)
    • Blessing: A blessing is recited on fragrant spices. 
      • Ashkenazim: The general blessing of Borei minei besamim (Who creates types of spices) is recited.
      • Sephardim: Specific blessings are recited, such as Borei atzei besamim (Who creates fragrant branches) or Borei isvei besamim (Who creates fragrant herbs).
    • Practical Guidelines:
      • One should not use spices designed only to remove a foul odor (such as bathroom freshener). 
      • If the one reciting havdala cannot smell, another individual recites the blessing during havdala (Ashkenazim) or after havdala (Sephardim).
  2. Candle
    • Blessing: Borei me’orei ha’esh is recited on the flame.
    • Practical Guidelines:
      • Preferably, use a special havdala candle with multiple wicks.
      • After the blessing, view one’s fingernails by the light to appreciate the flame. Some halakhic authorities hold that one does this before reciting the blessing.
  3. Blessing of Separation and Drinking the Wine
    • Blessing: The blessing of “Hamavdil” is recited, which marks the distinction between “holy” (i.e., Shabbat) and “mundane” (i.e., the weekdays), followed by drinking the cup of wine. 
    • Practical Guidelines:
      • Everyone should listen to the blessing without interruption, as missing part of this blessing invalidates the mitzva.
      • The leader drinks the wine; others may assist if necessary.

The leader must drink at least a cheekful (approximately 44 cc). Ideally, a full revi’it (86 cc) is consumed, requiring an after-blessing.

  1. Symbolic Meaning
    • Purpose: Havdala, which means separation, transitions from Shabbat’s sanctity to weekday activity. The blessing’s text, “He separates between holy and mundane, between light and dark…between the seventh day and the six days of work,” reinforces that holiness is preserved through separation. 
    • Symbolism:
      • Smelling spices enables the soul to cope with losing the additional soul (neshama yeteira), which joins a person on Shabbat. 
      • Seeing the flame commemorates the creation of fire on Saturday night by Adam in the Garden of Eden. 
      • Smelling spices and seeing the flame also awaken the senses, helping to carry Shabbat’s spiritual elevation into the week.
  2. Mystical Insights 
    • Neshama Yeteira: In addition to the connection between the departure of the additional soul and smelling the spices, the entire havdala ceremony also helps ease the loss of the additional soul.
    • Symbolism of Ritual Objects:
      • Candle: Reflects divine light.
      • Wine: Represents divine abundance.

Separation and Integration: Light and darkness represent distinct realms, as do sacred and mundane and Shabbat and the rest of the week. However, light illuminates the darkness, the holy illuminates the mundane, and Shabbat illuminates the rest of the week. Havdala demonstrates that these different realms must remain distinct but that Shabbat can impact the rest of the week, bridging sanctity with the material world.